Connector jack attaching structure and electronic camera

ABSTRACT

A connector jack surface-mounted on a board is reinforced, thereby enhancing durability against insertion and extraction and prying of a plug, and reducing noise. A reinforcing member is shaped to cover an outer circumference of a UBS connector and has attaching potions to be attached to a control board, the attaching portion is fixed to the control board with a screw and the attaching portion is fixed with an engaging portion of the attaching portion which is engaged with a protruding portion of the control board. Accordingly, the USB connector surface-mounted on the control board by soldering is reinforced by the reinforcing member which covers the outer circumference of the USB connector and is fixed to the control board.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a connector jack attachingstructure and an electronic camera, and more specifically a structurefor reinforcing a connector jack to be surface-mounted on a board.

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0004] As methods for attaching a connector jack to a board, there haveconventionally been adopted a method to solder a connector jack to asurface of a board, a method to insert a connector jack partially into athrough hole of a board and solder the connector jack from a rear sideof the board, a method to screw a connector jack to a board and thelike.

[0005] Furthermore, a liquid crystal monitor which is disposed in anelectronic camera is fixed to a metal frame and the metal frame is fixedin the electronic camera together with a board or the like having aconnector jack.

[0006] In case of a small connector jack, there is adopted a methodwhich solders the connector jack to a surface of a board, but thismethod poses a problem that the method relies on strength of a patternon the board and the connector jack becomes susceptible to detachmentafter a plug is repeatedly inserted and extracted and pried, though themethod requires a smaller number of attaching steps as compared withother attaching methods. A small connector jack which is disposed on asmall appliance such as an electronic camera in particular has a smallsoldering area and is problematic in its durability.

[0007] In case of an electronic camera in which a connector jack and aliquid crystal monitor are disposed at locations close to each other,there is a problem that the connector jack and the liquid crystalmonitor produce influences on each other due to noise and anotherproblem that the metal frame for holding the liquid crystal monitor isconfigured to have a form for fitting the liquid crystal monitor,thereby having a complicated form and a heavy weight.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] The present invention has been attained in view of suchcircumstances and has an object to provide a connector jack attachingstructure which reinforces a connector jack to be surface-mounted on aboard and is capable of enhancing durability of the connector jackagainst insertion and extraction and prying of a plug.

[0009] Furthermore, the present invention has another object to providean electronic camera comprising a connector jack and a liquid crystalmonitor disposed at locations close to each other, which is capable oflowering noise, and can be configured compact and light in weight.

[0010] In order to attain the above-described objects, the presentinvention is directed to a connector jack attaching structure forattaching a connector jack to a board, comprising: a reinforcing membershaped to cover an outer circumference of the connector jack and havingan attaching portion to be attached to the board, wherein: the connectorjack is surface-mounted on the board; the outer circumference of theconnector jack surface-mounted on the board is covered with thereinforcing member; and the attaching portion of the reinforcing memberis fixed to the board.

[0011] That is, the connector jack surface-mounted on the board isreinforced by covering the outer circumference of the connector jackwith the reinforcing member which is separate from the connector jackand fixing the reinforcing member to the board. Since the reinforcingmember covers the circumference of the connector jack, the reinforcingmember serves for preventing noise from penetrating into the connectorjack.

[0012] The above-described connector jack is characterized in that ithas a rectangular pipe member into which an external connector is to beinserted, that a surface of the above-described pipe member is placed onthe above-described board and surface-mounted thereon by soldering, andthat the above-described reinforcing member is brought into contact withother three surfaces of the above-described pipe member. Furthermore,the attaching portion of the above-described reinforcing member ischaracterized in that it is fixed to the above-described board by atleast one of screwing, soldering and engagement. The above-describedreinforcing member is characterized in that it comprises a sheet metalmember and the above-described sheet metal member is grounded.

[0013] The above-described reinforcing member is characterized in thatit has a spring portion which protrudes on a side opposite to theabove-described attaching portion and is formed integrally with thereinforcing member, and the above-described spring portion is kept inelastic contact with a member adjacent to the above-described board,thereby grounding the above-described member. Accordingly, the memberadjacent to the above-described board can be grounded easily byutilizing the above-described reinforcing member.

[0014] The present invention is also directed to an electronic cameracomprising the above-described connector jack attaching structure and aliquid crystal monitor, characterized in that the above-described liquidcrystal monitor is held with a molded resin frame and a metal member ona rear surface of the above-described liquid crystal monitor is broughtinto elastic contact with the spring portion of the above-describedreinforcing member at a fixing time of the above-described frame in thecamera, thereby grounding the metal member on the rear surface of theabove-described liquid crystal monitor by way of the above-describedreinforcing member.

[0015] That is, when a frame for holding the liquid crystal monitor isconfigured as the molded resin frame, the frame can have a morecomplicated form and a lighter weight than a metal frame. Furthermore,the electronic camera is configured to reduce noise by grounding themetal member on the rear surface of the liquid crystal monitor easily byutilizing the above-described reinforcing member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] The nature of this invention, as well as other objects andadvantages thereof, will be explained in the following with reference tothe accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designatethe same or similar parts throughout the figures and wherein:

[0017]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an electronic camera according tothe present invention as seen from right front;

[0018]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the electronic camera shown inFIG. 1 as seen from behind;

[0019]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the electronic camera shown inFIG. 1 as seen from left front;

[0020]FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the electronic cameraaccording to the present invention;

[0021]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a main frame as seen from a rearside;

[0022]FIG. 6 is a plan view of a sub-frame holding a liquid crystalmonitor;

[0023]FIG. 7 is a side view of main members showing an internalconfiguration of the electronic camera;

[0024]FIG. 8 is an enlarged perspective view of main members of acontrol board;

[0025]FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a reinforcing member forreinforcing a USB connector;

[0026]FIG. 10 is a side view showing a condition where the reinforcingmember is attached to the control board; and

[0027]FIG. 11 is a side view of main members of the control board andthe sub-frame as seen in a direction indicated by an arrow A in FIG. 10.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0028] Now referring to the accompanying drawings, description will bemade of preferable embodiments of the connector jack attaching structureand the electronic camera according to the present invention.

[0029]FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 are perspective views of the electronic cameraaccording to the present invention as seen from right front, behind andleft front respectively.

[0030] A cylindrical lens section 11 which protrudes frontward from acamera main body is attached to a front surface of an electronic camera10 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. Disposed in this lens section 11 is a lensunit 12 having a lens barrel which can freely advance and retreat, andfitted over a tip portion of the lens section 11 is a manual focus ring24 which is to be manipulated for manually adjusting a focused position.

[0031] Furthermore, disposed on the front surface of the electroniccamera 10 are a pup-up type strobe 16 which irradiates an object withrays for compensating an amount of rays, a strobe light adjusting sensor18 which adjusts an amount of rays emitted from the strobe 16dependently on a distance to the object, a self timer lamp 20 and a gripsection 22 which holds the electronic camera 10 accurately.

[0032] Disposed on a side surface of the electronic camera 10 are afocus mode selector switch 30 which selects a manual focus mode (MFmode) for focusing by manipulating the manual focus ring 24 or anautofocus mode (AF mode) for automatic focusing, a zoom switch 32 whichindicates adjustments of a focal length and an angle of view to a wideside and a telephoto side, a cross key 52, an information button 34 forindicating, upon being clicked, a liquid crystal monitor 68 or a liquidcrystal finder 50 of the electronic camera 10 which is to displayphotographing conditions at a photographing time, an exposure correctionbutton 36 which indicates an exposure correction amount for aphotographed image, a white balance adjusting button 38 which adjustswhite balance of an image of the object, and a strobe pup-up button 40which sets the strobe 16 at a location ready for use. Furthermore,disposed in an accessory cover 42 of the electronic camera 10 are acommunication connector (USB connector) 44 for information communicationwith another electronic appliance, a video output terminal 46 for videosignal communication and a connector jack (DC input terminal) 48 forpower source input.

[0033] As shown in FIG. 2, disposed on a rear surface of the electroniccamera 10 are a liquid crystal finder 50 which allows a user to confirmthe image of the object by peeping even in a bright environment, thecross key 52 for inputting information into the electronic camera 10 bythe user while indicating up, down, left and right directions, amenu/execute button 54 which is used to instruct setting of whitebalance, brightness and the like for photographing or reproduction, andrecording photographing conditions for a photographed image asphotographing conditions for a next photographing in recording means, acancel/return button 56 which instructs a processing cancellation orprocessing return to a previous state, a display button 58 whichinstructs display on the liquid crystal monitor 68, and a shift button60 which allocates another processing to a multi-function operatingbutton.

[0034] Furthermore, disposed on the rear surface of the electroniccamera 10 are a display selector button 62 for selecting the liquidcrystal finder 50 or the liquid crystal monitor 68 which is to displayan image or information, an enlargement switch 64 which instructsenlarged display for confirming a focused condition of the object, an AElock button 66 which fixes a photometric value measured in ahalf-depressed condition of a shutter button 80 and the liquid crystalmonitor 68. Disposed on a bottom surface of the electronic camera 10 area battery cover 72 which serves as a cover for a portion in which abattery is to be accommodated and a hole 74 for a tripod.

[0035] The cross key 52 is capable of inputting instructions in fourcorresponding directions (right, left, up and down): a right key and aleft key functioning as buttons for feeding frames in a normal directionand a reverse direction respectively, whereas an up key and a down keyfunctioning as zoom levers for adjusting a zoom magnification in thephotographing mode. The menu/execute button 54 is used for shifting adisplayed usual screen to a menu screen in each mode or instructingsettlement of selected contents, execution of a processing, confirmationof a processing and the like. Furthermore, a removable memory card (notshown) can be set in a slot cover 70 of the electronic camera 10.

[0036] As shown in FIG. 3, disposed on a top surface of the electroniccamera 10 are a shutter button 80 for instructing photographing, a powersource switch 82 for instructing an operation or no operation of theelectronic camera 10, a mode setting switch 84 for setting theelectronic camera 10 in the photographing mode or the reproduction mode,a strobe button 86 for instructing light emission or inhibition of lightemission from the strobe, a macro button 88 for instructing macrophotographing, a self timer button 90, a successive photographing button92 for instructing setting or cancellation of successive photographingmode, a mode selector dial 94 for selecting various photographing modesof the electronic camera 10 and a command dial 96 for setting thevarious photographing modes.

[0037]FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the above-describedelectronic camera 10.

[0038] As shown in FIG. 4, the electronic camera 10 comprises a sheathbody (a front cabinet 100 and a rear cabinet 102), a lens unit 12, amain frame 110, a power source board 120, a control board 130, asub-frame 140 and a liquid crystal monitor 68.

[0039] The front cabinet 100 has not only a cylindrical lens section 11which protrudes frontward but also a grip section 22 which protrudesfrontward (see FIG. 3). The main frame 110 is a resin molding which ismade of resin such as ABS resin, and comprises a lens mounting portion111 protruding toward the lens section 11 and a battery chamber 112protruding along the grip section 22 which are molded integrally. To beattached to this battery chamber 112 is a sheet metal member 113 forbattery disposed on which are a terminal section for connection tobattery terminals and a member for attaching a battery cover. Theabove-described main frame 110 is fixed to the front cabinet 100 withscrews 114 and 115 as shown in FIG. 5.

[0040] Furthermore, the liquid crystal monitor 68 is held on thesub-frame 140 as shown in FIGS. 4 and 6. Like the main frame 110, thesub-frame 140 is a resin molding which is made of the ABS resin or thelike.

[0041] Mounted on a power source board 120 are a DC input terminal 48, amain capacitor 122 for a strobe 16 and the like, and mounted on acontrol board 130 are a USB connector 44, a video output terminal 46, acard connector 132 into and out of which a memory card is to be insertedand removed, and the like.

[0042]FIG. 7 is a side view of main members showing an internalconfiguration of the electronic camera 10.

[0043] As shown in FIG. 7, the lens unit 12 is accommodated in the lenssection 11 (lens accommodator) of the front cabinet 100, and a rearportion of the lens unit 12 is fixed to the lens mounting portion 111 ofthe main frame 110 (see FIGS. 4 and 5) with screws 116 and 117. In otherwords, the lens unit 12 is fixed between a tip portion of the lenssection 11 and the main frame 110. Built in the lens unit 12 are a motorfor driving a zoom lens, a focusing lens, etc., a lens positiondetecting sensor and the like, which are connected electrically to thecontrol board 130 by way of a flexible wiring pattern 13.

[0044] Furthermore, the power source board 120 and the control board 130are sandwiched and fixed between the main frame 110 to which the sheetmetal member 113 for battery is attached and the sub-frame 140. In otherwords, the lens unit 12, the power source board 120 and the controlboard 130 are fixed to the main frame 110 respectively with the mainframe 110 interposed.

[0045] In the configuration of the electronic camera which is assembledas described above, the lens unit 12, the power source board 120 and thecontrol board 130 are fixed to the above-described main frame 110respectively with the main frame 110 interposed, thereby making itpossible to configure the electronic camera 10 compact in a horizontaldirection. The power source board 120 and the control board 130 havesmall notches to avoid a liquid crystal finder 50 but have no largenotch to avoid the lens unit 12, thereby making it possible to configurethe boards 120 and 130 to have shapes closer to rectangles which permitan efficient pattern wiring. Furthermore, a main capacitor 122 isdisposed right after the lens unit 12 with the main frame 110 interposedand at a location close to the strobe 16 located on a top of the lenssection 11, thereby making it possible to obtain a high energyefficiency and ensure a long creepage distance of the main capacitor 122owing to the main frame 110 made of resin. Furthermore, the maim frame110 and the sub-frame 140 which are made of the resin make it possibleto lessen a weight of the camera.

[0046]FIG. 8 is an enlarged perspective view of main members of thecontrol board 130.

[0047] As shown in FIG. 8, the USB connector 44 and the video outputterminal 46 are mounted on the control board 130. The video outputterminal 46 has a member (contact member) which is fixed to theabove-described video output terminal 46, inserted into a through holeof the control board 130 and soldered from a rear side of the controlboard 130. Accordingly, the video output terminal 46 is fixed so as tobe highly durable of connection, disconnection and wrenching of a plug.

[0048] On the other hand, the USB connector 44 has a rectangular pipemember 44A into which the USB plug is to be inserted, and a bottomsurface of the pipe member 44A is disposed on the control board 130 andsurface-mounted on a pattern such as ground of the control board 130 bysoldering 45. Accordingly, the USB connector 44 in this condition relieson strength of the pattern and may come off the control board 130 aftera plug is repeatedly inserted and extracted and pried.

[0049]FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a reinforcing member 134 whichreinforces the above-described USB connector 44.

[0050] The reinforcing member 134 comprises a sheet metal member formedso as to cover an outer circumferential surface of the above-describedUSB connector 44 (that is, a top surface and both side surfaces of thepipe member 44A), and have attaching portions 134A and 134B which are tobe attached to a hole portion 130A and protruding portions 130B (seeFIG. 8) formed on the control board 130 as well as a spring portion 134Cwhich is to be brought into contact with a rear surface of the liquidcrystal monitor 68.

[0051] The above-described attaching portion 134A has a tapped holeportion which is to be tightened with a screw by way of the hole portion130A of the control board 130, and the attaching portion 134B has anengaging portion which is to be inserted into a concave portion betweenthe two protruding portions 130B and engaged with one of the protrudingportions 130B.

[0052]FIG. 10 is a side view showing a condition where theabove-described reinforcing member 134 is attached to the control board130.

[0053] When the reinforcing member 134 having the above-describedconfiguration is to be attached to the control board 130, an engagingportion of the attaching portion 134B of the reinforcing member 134 isfirst engaged with the protruding portion 130B of the control board 130and then the attaching portion 134A of the reinforcing member 134 istightened with a screw 136 from the rear side of the control board 130.

[0054] When the reinforcing member 134 is attached to the control board130 as described above, the reinforcing member 134 is kept in contactwith a top surface and both side surfaces of the pipe member 44A of theUSB connector 44, thereby reinforcing attaching strength of the USBconnector 44 to the control board 130. In addition, it is preferable tofix the reinforcing member 134 to the pipe member 44A of the USBconnector 44 by soldering or the like. Though the attaching portions134A and 134B of the reinforcing member 134 are configured to be fixedto the control board 130 by the screwing and the engagementrespectively, this embodiment is not limitative, and the attachingportions may be fixed by only one or a combination of two or more of thescrewing, engagement and soldering. A fixing method is not mattered sofar as the reinforcing member can be fixed to the board.

[0055] Then, description will be made of a function of the springportion 134C which is formed integrally with the reinforcing member 134.

[0056] In a condition where the power source board 120 and the controlboard 130 are fixed between the main frame 110 and the sub-frame 140 asdescribed with reference to FIG. 7, the sub-frame 140 is disposedadjacent to the reinforcing member 134 of the control board 130.

[0057]FIG. 11 is a side view showing main members of the control board130 and the sub-frame 140 as seen in a direction indicated by an arrow Ain FIG. 10.

[0058] As shown in FIGS. 11 and 4, an opening 140A is formed in thesub-frame 140 so as to face to a rear surface of the liquid crystalmonitor 68 and the spring portion 134C of the reinforcing member 134 iskept in elastic contact with the rear surface of the liquid crystalmonitor 68 through the opening 140A of the sub-frame 140.

[0059] Though a liquid crystal monitor which forms a main current has anouter circumference and a rear surface entirely covered with a metalmember in order to obtain a shielding effect and the metal member isconnected to a ground of an electronic camera, the electronic camera 10does not allow the metal member to be connected to the ground viasub-frame 140 since the sub-frame 140 which holds the liquid crystalmonitor 68 is made of resin.

[0060] Since the spring portion 134C of the above-described reinforcingmember 134 is in the elastic contact with the rear surface of the liquidcrystal monitor 68, the metal member on the rear surface of the liquidcrystal monitor 68 can be connected to the ground of the control board130. In addition, it is needless to say that the reinforcing member 134is electrically connected to the ground of the control board 130directly or by way of the pipe member 44A of the USB connector 44.

[0061] Accordingly, it is possible to dispose the USB connector 44 andthe liquid crystal monitor 68 so as not to produce influence on eachother due to noise. Furthermore, a pressing force is applied to thereinforcing member 134 from the liquid crystal monitor 68 by way of thespring portion 134C, serving as an aid to fix the reinforcing member134.

[0062] The connector jack attaching structure according to the presentinvention is configured to cover an outer circumference of a connectorjack disposed on a surface of a board with a reinforcing member and fixthis reinforcing member to the board as described above, thereby beingcapable of reinforcing the connector jack and enhancing durabilityagainst insertion and extraction and prying of a plug. Furthermore, theconnector jack attaching structure according to the present invention iscapable of allowing the reinforcing member to prevent noise frompenetrating into the connector jack.

[0063] Furthermore, the electronic camera according to the presentinvention adopts a resin molding for a frame for holding a liquidcrystal monitor, thereby allowing the frame to have a more complicatedform and a lighter weight than a metal frame. Furthermore, theelectronic camera according to the present invention is capable ofreducing noise since the electronic camera allows a metal member on arear surface of the liquid crystal monitor held by the resin frame madeof resin to be grounded easily by utilizing the reinforcing member.

[0064] It should be understood, however, that there is no intention tolimit the invention to the specific forms disclosed, but on thecontrary, the invention is to cover all modifications, alternateconstructions and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of theinvention as expressed in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A connector jack attaching structure forattaching a connector jack to a board, comprising: a reinforcing membershaped to cover an outer circumference of the connector jack and havingan attaching portion to be attached to the board, wherein: the connectorjack is surface-mounted on the board; the outer circumference of theconnector jack surface-mounted on the board is covered with thereinforcing member; and the attaching portion of the reinforcing memberis fixed to the board.
 2. The connector jack attaching structureaccording to claim 1, wherein the reinforcing member comprises a sheetmetal member being connected to a ground.
 3. The connector jackattaching structure according to claim 2, wherein: the reinforcingmember has an integrally formed spring portion which protrudes on a sideopposite to the attaching portion; and the spring portion is kept inelastic contact with a member adjacent to the board, thereby groundingthe member.
 4. An electronic camera, comprising: the connector jackattaching structure according to claim 3; and a liquid crystal monitor,wherein: the liquid crystal monitor has a metal member on a rear surfacethereof and is held with a frame of a resin molding; and the metalmember on the rear surface of the liquid crystal monitor is brought intoelastic contact with the spring portion of the reinforcing member whenthe frame is fixed in the camera, thereby grounding the metal member onthe rear surface of the liquid crystal monitor through the reinforcingmember.
 5. The connector jack attaching structure according to claim 1,wherein the attaching portion of the reinforcing member is fixed to theboard by at least one of screwing, soldering and engagement.
 6. Theconnector jack attaching structure according to claim 5, wherein thereinforcing member comprises a sheet metal member being connected to aground.
 7. The connector jack attaching structure according to claim 6,wherein: the reinforcing member has an integrally formed spring portionwhich protrudes on a side opposite to the attaching portion; and thespring portion is kept in elastic contact with a member adjacent to theboard, thereby grounding the member.
 8. An electronic camera,comprising: the connector jack attaching structure according to claim 7;and a liquid crystal monitor, wherein: the liquid crystal monitor has ametal member on a rear surface thereof and is held with a frame of aresin molding; and the metal member on the rear surface of the liquidcrystal monitor is brought into elastic contact with the spring portionof the reinforcing member when the frame is fixed in the camera, therebygrounding the metal member on the rear surface of the liquid crystalmonitor through the reinforcing member.
 9. The connector jack attachingstructure according to claim 1, wherein: the connector jack has arectangular pipe member into which an external connector is to beinserted; a surface of the pipe member is disposed and surface-mountedon the board by soldering; and the reinforcing member is kept in contactwith other three surfaces of the pipe member.
 10. The connector jackattaching structure according to claim 9, wherein the reinforcing membercomprises a sheet metal member being connected to a ground.
 11. Theconnector jack attaching structure according to claim 10, wherein: thereinforcing member has an integrally formed spring portion whichprotrudes on a side opposite to the attaching portion; and the springportion is kept in elastic contact with a member adjacent to the board,thereby grounding the member.
 12. An electronic camera, comprising: theconnector jack attaching structure according to claim 11; and a liquidcrystal monitor, wherein: the liquid crystal monitor has a metal memberon a rear surface thereof and is held with a frame of a resin molding;and the metal member on the rear surface of the liquid crystal monitoris brought into elastic contact with the spring portion of thereinforcing member when the frame is fixed in the camera, therebygrounding the metal member on the rear surface of the liquid crystalmonitor through the reinforcing member.
 13. The connector jack attachingstructure according to claim 9, wherein the attaching portion of thereinforcing member is fixed to the board by at least one of screwing,soldering and engagement.
 14. The connector jack attaching structureaccording to claim 13, wherein the reinforcing member comprises a sheetmetal member being connected to a ground.
 15. The connector jackattaching structure according to claim 14, wherein: the reinforcingmember has an integrally formed spring portion which protrudes on a sideopposite to the attaching portion; and the spring portion is kept inelastic contact with a member adjacent to the board, thereby groundingthe member.
 16. An electronic camera, comprising: the connector jackattaching structure according to claim 15; and a liquid crystal monitor,wherein: the liquid crystal monitor has a metal member on a rear surfacethereof and is held with a frame of a resin molding; and the metalmember on the rear surface of the liquid crystal monitor is brought intoelastic contact with the spring portion of the reinforcing member whenthe frame is fixed in the camera, thereby grounding the metal member onthe rear surface of the liquid crystal monitor through the reinforcingmember.